Washing-machine



(No MudelJ' G. THOMPSON.

WASHING MACHINE. Np. 268,628. Patented-Aug. 29, 1882.

UNITED STATES GASTON THOMPSON, OF CAMERON, NORTH CAROLINA.

WASHING- MACHINE'.

SPECIFICATION forming partiof Letters Patent No. 263,628, dated August 29, 1882.

Application filed March 13J 1882.

To all 'whom it may concerm,

Bc it known that I, GASTON THOMPSON, of Cameron, in the county of Moore and State of North Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing-Machines 5 and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference bein ghad tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of my improved Washing-machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same through one ot' the rollers of the reciprocating rubber; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section through one side of the reciprocating rubberframe, showing the spring-bearings for the roller-shafts.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

My invention has relation to reciprocatingrubber washing-machines; and it consists i n the improved construction and combination of parts of a machine of that class, as hereinafter more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim..

In the accompanying drawings, A represents the tub or suds-box, which is of rectangular shape and supported upon legs a., of suitable height. In the bottom of the box is secured the corrugated stationary rubber B, which is preferably of hard wood and of the shape clearly shown in the drawingsf-that is, with its forward end made beveled or sloping toward the bottom of the tub to forman incline, b. There is an open space, c, between the under side of the stationary rubber B and the bottom of the tub or box A, to permit of the free circulation of the hot water and soap-suds, and there are also open spaces or channels on bothsides of the rubber, as shown at dd,Fig. 2, separating it from the ways D D in the bottom of the tub, upon which the reciprocating rubber slides. The latter consists of a frame having two side pieces, E E, connected by cross-pieces C C', one or both of which is rounded, or has its edges cut o' or beveled, to form a convenient grip or handle for operating the rubber. The sides E have cylindrical (No model.)

bores or recesses e, having longitudinal slots f, opening to the inside of the frame.

F designates the rollers, of which there may be three or more, the shafts G of which are iuserted through the slots f into bearings H, that are fitted loosely1 in the cylindrical bores or boxes e, so as to have a free up-aud-down motion. Each of the roller-bearings His reduced at its upper end, where it is encircled or encompassed by a coiled spring, I, which impin ges upon its shoulder i. Narrow strips K, of wood or metal, are placed upon the bottom of the frame for the double purpose of closing the boxes e and properly confining the rollerbearings H, which work in said boxes, and

forming shoes or wearing-strips to slide uponthe ways D D in the bottom of the tub iu reciprocatin g the rubber. In the top of the latter are `mortises or recesses ZZ, to receive friction-rollers L L, which wear against flanges M M on the sides of the tub alongits top; and it,

will thus be seen that the rubber is at all times eonned between the bottom ways, D D, and top tlan ges or guide-strips, MM. At the same time the spring-bearings H I of the rollers 'permit the latter to yield in their boxes e in passing over the stationary rubber B and over the clothes on said rubber, and as each roller has its own separate spring-bearin gs they will yield independently of one another, according to thethickness of the layer of clothes under each. The friction-rollers L in the top of the rubberframe cause this to work freely and easily, and without binding,77 and the slope or incline b of the stationary `rubber causes the clothes in the tub to work up upon said rubber as the movable rubber is reciprocated, while the open spaces at the sides and ends and underneath the stationary rubber provide for the free circulation of the suds.

Iam aware that washing-machines have been made before in which a reciprocating rubber having spring-actuated rollers slides upon a corrugated rubber-board xed inthe bottom of the suds-box, the sliding rubber being conned between ways to give it a true forwardand-back motion, and I do not therefore claim such construction, broadly; but

What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of t'hevUnited States, is t IOO The Washing-machine herein described, constructed, combined, and adapted to serve as xo sisting of the laterally-corrugated stationary and for the purposes set forth. rubber B, the reciprocating rubber-frame E, In testimony that I claim the foregoing as having boxes e and recesses l, the rollers F, ymy own I have hereunto affixed. my signature 5 journaled in said recesses, the spiral springs in presence of two witnesses.

I, operating in the boxes e, the bearings H, GASTON THOMPSON. having shouldersalnd conical shank, the eross- Witnesses: bars C C', strips K, adapted to cover the boxes ANGUS GURRIE.,

e, the rollers L, and rien ges M, the whole con- GIDEON MCFADY. 

